Because Knowing our Neighbor can have a very different dynamic outside the Mormon corridor (e.g. St. Louis and Boston where Dana and I respectively live), we are delighted to feature the thoughts of Christine Balderas who lives inside the Mormon Corridor.
Christine was one of the organizers of Salt Lake City's 'Bridging the Divide' dialogues several years back (full bio is below). As a prelude to her guest postings, below is a reprint of an op-ed piece Christine wrote several years back for the Salt Lake Tribune.
Happily, it could have been written yesterday.
Source: Rene Mansi, iStockphoto
The Salt Lake Tribune
Date: 05/19/2001 Edition: Final Section: Daybreak Page: C3
Keywords: Between Heaven & Earth Column
Millcreek Neighbors Celebrate Tolerance
BY CHRISTINE W. BALDERAS SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE
As Utahns, we share many characteristics and life goals, but rather than celebrate our commonality, we often tend to focus more on what separates us.
Religious affiliation is a common excuse that seems to divide our community. Neighbors and acquaintances often use the excuse that they are either too involved with their own church activities to get to know each other or that they really have nothing in common with their neighbors, so why try.
Fear of others' ulterior motives often hampers sustained relationships in some neighborhoods.
But not in my neighborhood!
Not on my street!
I live on a religiously tolerant street. We enjoy being together -- not because we all think or believe the same, but because we all grow from each other's strengths and ideas. Whether at neighborhood ice cream socials, children's street plays, caroling parties, summer camping trips, Christmas service projects, Sunday evening gab-fests, or in times of grief or celebration, we truly care about each other.
Taboo areas, regarding religious discussion or participation, are almost nonexistent. When my Catholic neighbor's son had his first communion, almost the entire street attended the celebration, including our neighbor and local LDS ward bishop, who excused himself from sacrament meeting to attend the Mass. Lutheran, Latter-day Saint, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and Catholic all sang and rejoiced together....
...At the invitation of her Presbyterian next-door neighbor, a young LDS girl attended summer Bible classes at her church. Neighbors on the street, regardless of denomination, enjoy the Buffalo Barbecue Scouting fund-raiser sponsored by the nearby Methodist church. Supporting each other's activities is pretty routine stuff...
...An appreciation of each other's beliefs is gained by putting aside fears and forging into unknown territory. Once that territory is explored, it just isn't scary anymore.
Source: Steven Robertson, istockphoto
Likewise, our neighbors, who aren't Mormon, support LDS Church social events, baptisms, children's Primary programs, and missionary farewells and homecomings -- even contributing money and writing letters to missionaries...Our Catholic neighbor is also our street coordinator. She organizes activities, collects money for bereavement gifts and takes monthly goodies to widowers on the street.
My Episcopal neighbor contributes money regularly to our LDS ward Relief Society, after women on the street gave round-the-clock care to his wife while he was in the hospital recovering from a heart attack.
My neighbor, when hearing that a fellow Catholic Church member was thinking of leaving the state because of feelings of religious exclusion, suggested it is a two-way street.
"We have to be willing to go the extra mile, too," my neighbor said.
On one occasion when a Latter-day Saint child made an inappropriate remark about a neighbor's religion, it was shrugged off.
"You should hear the comments that are made in my church," the neighbor said. Insult forgotten and relationships sustained.
Do we disagree on issues? Yes!
Do we say or hear hurtful things? Sometimes.
Do we let it fester and destroy our Heaven on Earth relationships with our neighbors? Never!
It just isn't worth the price. It takes a great deal of effort and loving tolerance, but it is worth it. Both adults and children on our street care immensely about each other and by so doing, we have grown to appreciate and love our differences.
It is nice to come home.
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Christine W. Balderas lives in the Canyon Rim/East Millcreek neighborhood.
Christine is deeply involved in community building work. On the organizing committee of Salt Lake City’s “Bridging the Religious Divide” dialogues, she saw the transformation that happens when people engage with others across culture and religion. She is on the board of the Salt Lake Center for Engaging Community and it’s subcommittee, “Creating a Culture of Connection”.
Her passion is bringing people together. After stories appeared in both local papers about her street’s cohesiveness, she began working with a group of dedicated women, from varied backgrounds, in her community. The Canyon Rim Community Connection was created. The goal of this organization is to bring neighbors together in various activities, including social, service and dialogue opportunities.
An elementary school teacher, gardening business owner and seminar presenter, Christine began SHARE Parent of Utah to help families who have experienced infant death.
She lives in the foothills of Salt Lake with her husband Dan. They have four married children and eight grandchildren.
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